Kissed by Winter, page 12
“I made him promise to keep my return a secret. Chloe, too.”
“You knew?” Andrew stared wide at his sister who had slithered between Travis and Max at the counter. He glanced around at the crowded room.
Danielle rolled her eyes. “Jackson told Candy, Chloe told Tyler, and so on. Obviously, no one can keep a secret in this town.”
Everyone chuckled.
She shrugged out of her coat and placed it over the back of a chair. “I apologize for not contacting you sooner.”
“I understand you were mad, and you had every right to be. I’m so sorry for not believing in you…in us.”
He wouldn’t meet her gaze. She reached out and pulled the sleeve of his shirt until he faced her. “I didn’t like the way you handled the situation however, I do understand you wanting to protect your family. And, I was on my way to give you a piece of my mind when I received a message from my friend, Waverly. I told you about her.”
Andrew nodded.
“She received some news about her husband. His unit went silent. She was scared and needed me.” Danielle swallowed past the lump in her throat. She’d spent the last two days at Waverly’s side, waiting with her friend for an update. “The details are classified, but she received a call yesterday saying he’s okay.”
He claimed her hands and held them tight. She smiled at the instant warmth his touch provided.
“I wanted to stay with Waverly a few more days, but she said I had let you suffer enough and insisted I go get my mountain man.”
His lips curved upward, and his brows rose. “So, are you just visiting again?”
“No. I’m moving here permanently. Jackson offered me a partnership. I accepted.”
“Oh, the job, right. I’m happy for you.”
Seeing Andrew’s sombre, yet handsome, face annihilated her rehearsed speech right out of her head. Danielle’s mind whirled so fast she blurted out the ending. “The promotion is a bonus, but not the main reason why I’m staying. I’m here for you. I love you, Andrew Bailey.”
Andrew pulled her into his arms. “I was ready to catch the next flight to Victoria. Beg for forgiveness and to bring you home.” He stared into her eyes. “I love you, Dani.” And then he kissed her.
The restaurant exploded in clapping and cheering.
But as if they were the only two in the room, Andrew rested his forehead on hers. “Are you sure about Redford Falls? Winter weather? The ski slopes?” he whispered.
She ran her fingers up his arms, over his shoulders, and into his hair. Knowing her mountain man hero was about to venture thousands of miles to declare his love made her heart somersault. “As long as I’m with you.” She smiled. “Nothing else matters.” Then she glanced around. “I’ve also fallen in love with this town and the people in it.”
Another round of applause filled the room.
“Besides…” Gazing into the eyes of her future, she placed a light kiss on his lips. She couldn’t wait to begin every day just like this—in Andrew’s arms. “Who are we to meddle with the matchmaking tradition of the legendary Thumper.”
A word about the author...
Darlene resides on the Atlantic Coast of Canada where the summers are too short and the winters are too long. An avid reader since childhood, Darlene loved to develop the many stories coming to life in her head. She writes contemporary romances with a focus on plot-driven page-turners. When not working on her next book, she can be found with her husband, her daughter, and her yellow Labrador. Darlene’s favourite pastime is taking summer day-trips to the Valley to soak in the small-town feel.
Author Web Site: http://darlenefredette.blogspot.com/
Blog: http://findingthewritewords.blogspot.com
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Darlene-Fredette/e/B005NAF660/
Books by Darlene Fredette
Hershey’s Choice
Twist of Faith
Law of Attraction
Redford Falls
His Candy Christmas
Coming Soon
A Redford Falls Novel
Book 3
By Darlene Fredette
This spring the blossoms aren’t the only thing blooming in Redford Falls.
A tragic accident tore them apart. She left him behind and broke his heart. Is he strong enough to risk it again?
Police officer, Tyler Kringle, keeps his heart locked behind bars. His first and only love, Maripier Nadeau, left Redford Falls many years ago after a family tragedy. She moved on, leaving him to pick up the shattered pieces of his heart. But now Maripier is home to care for her father and to attend a dedication ceremony in her mother’s honour. Her return rattles Tyler’s cage, causing old emotions to resurface. Once he discovers the truth from the past, can he reclaim the love of his life and lock-down their future before she leaves again?
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contact us at
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Also available from The Wild Rose Press, Inc.
His Candy Christmas
by Darlene Fredette
Who knew returning home would contain a cool nip in the air, irresistible chocolate, and a Santa suit?
Candice Cane is not proud of the way she acted after her last encounter with Jackson Frost. Sure revenge was fun, but now Jackson is angry and looking for answers, and standing on the welcome mat in her chocolate shop. Now he's after some revenge of his own.
Jackson returned to his small hometown for one reason and one reason only. So, he's not sure how he ended up in a Santa suit in the middle of a chocolate shop, at the behest of its beautiful owner, instead of high-tailing it back to the city as fast as he can.
Also Available
Holly's Heart
by Melinda Sanchez
Holly Frost has suffered from unrequited-love since she turned down Elam Holmes in high school. Years later they are still doing the "friend zone" dance. They've seen each other through heartbreaking loss and shared everything--except the truth. Can they break down the walls they've built to find love beyond friendship?
The Christmas Frost Series--Finding Joy, Noelle's Kiss, Holly's Heart, and Chrissy's Catch--tells the stories of the four Frost sisters, who overcome heartache, betrayal and ghosts from the past to find true love and bring back the magic of Christmas.
Darlene Fredette, Kissed by Winter
